Live performances

[Trumpetmaster]

I went to a Hartford Symphony concert over the weekend.

Shostakovich (the other one): Festive Overture
Beethoven: Piano Concerto #1
Ives: Three Places in New England
Respighi: Pines of Rome

I wanted to see this for Pines. Just over 50 years ago, as a college freshman, the Minneapolis Symphony (now called Minnesota Orchestra) visited. Antal Dorati conducted. They ended with Pines. I can still feel the auditorium shaking. So here was another chance to hear it live. This auditorium may be anchored better. The seats didn't shake. To be fair, the chairs were portable 50 years ago. Anyway, this time the Appian Way had some of the brasses stationed around the auditorium. The "surround sound" was pretty impressive.

I think Respighi was the greatest film composer who never wrote for movies. Come to think of it, 3/4 of Pines appeared in Fantasia 2000.

Respighi at one time studied with Rimsky-Korsakov. They and Ravel form my 3 Rs of Orchestration.

Ever notice the similarity between the opening of Stravinsky's Dance of the Firebird and the opening of the second of the Fountains of Rome?

Shos

Shos,

Sounds like the Pines is one of your favorites.....
Antal Dorati.... WOW... Great work and it must have been a fabulous
experience!!!!

I used to go to Music Camp back when I first started playing in the 70's.
One of my first Orchestral performances was playing The Pines of Rome.

The Orchestra needed extra trumpets so I was selected to play.
They posted the extra trumpets at different spots around the audience.

I thought it was pretty cool and that was one of the events that
started me down my love for Classical Music!

Regards,
TM

[barfle]

Good morning all.

Still a bit bleary-eyed from the late night, but it was an excellent evening.

La Bayadere was, as always, a delight to both the eyes and the ears. As I've noted, I feel "The Kingdom of the Shades" is the most wonderful piece in dance, and last night was done quite well. There's something about 24 ballerinas plus four soloists on stage that is overwhelming.

The Mahler piece is called Dark Elegies and the music is from "Kindertotenleider." It was sung (in German, of course, but with no supertitles) by a baritone, sitting on a bench forward stage right. Quite simply done, very freeform, and absolutely mahvelous. The costumes were quite simple, the women wearing mid-length solid color peasant dresses and scarves, the men wearing pants, white shirts and what looked like sleeveless pullover sweaters, but hung different from a knit fabric. I would describe the choreography as sort of "theme and variations," as many steps were repeated in different combinations of dancers, with unique transitions. Very cool, and certainly something I'd like to see again.

And then there was Rodeo. I've seen Billy The Kid and Appalachian Spring, but surprisingly I had never seen Rodeo before. That was a heck of a lot of fun. Very easy to follow, and there's a tap solo toward the end that is a wonderful surprise. And the cowgirl was absolutely adorable.

Money well spent, but of course I found out that the Bolshoi will be doing Don Quixote next month, and Peter Schickele is coming in May!

[Trumpetmaster]

Barfle,
Thanks!

Glad you enjoyed the night so much and shared the experience!!!!

Regards,
TM

[shostakovich]

Yes, I'm definitely a Pines fan. I've had recordings by Previtali, Ansermet, Dorati. Still have recordings by Ormandy, Toscanini, Dutoit, and one other not good enough to go downstairs to identify. I assume, since Pines launched your career, you are a fan, too.
Shos

[bignaf]

yeah! let's talk about Respighi in all the threads! me fan too!

[barfle]

I've heard Pines live twice, both by the Pacific Symphony. The first time, led by Keith Clark, I had never heard it before, and except for a very phony bird call, it became one of my favorites. The second time, led by Carl St. Claire, I knew I was in for a treat.

[Trumpetmaster]

Yes, I'm definitely a Pines fan. I've had recordings by Previtali, Ansermet, Dorati. Still have recordings by Ormandy, Toscanini, Dutoit, and one other not good enough to go downstairs to identify. I assume, since Pines launched your career, you are a fan, too.
Shos

Absolutely!

[Trumpetmaster]

My parents went to hear the Augusta Symphony last night.
They wanted me to come along but I was tired.

I will speak to them later for a review....

They heard Debussy La Mer...

A
N
D


Ravel

wait......







down below.....


Yes.....


BOLERO.....

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

....BOLERO.....

Ask if they get visuals along with the music (or is it just me?)

[Trumpetmaster]

....BOLERO.....

Ask if they get visuals along with the music (or is it just me?)

Selma, I will ask them....


There were 2 other works on the program...
One was a contemporary work by I believe Paulson...
The other was the Dvorak Cello Concerto...

They never told me about the Dvorak.... as tired as I was
I just may have pulled my tired butt out off the couch to
go to that program... Oh well.....

[trombonepirate]

It was an . . . erm . . . enlightening evening shall we say. Actually I really enjoyed Mad King just because it was so bizarre (I've been told time and again that I have really strange taste). My favorite number was Country Dance. Poor old guy's completely lost it by that point. Maybe I enjoyed it because I see a bit of myself there. I'm working on a huge analysis project and I've listened to the music so much that it sort of goes psychedelic sometimes. Handel music with a foxtrot beat though - how can you go wrong?
TBP

[bignaf]

I called it! I called it! I said you'll like it just because it's so bizarre.

what are you analyzing?

[OperaTenor]

Samson and Delilah opened at the SDO last Saturday night. The people running the show thought it went really well, and it felt good. In the first act, I'm a HNebrew slave. My costume looks like Hagred(sp?):


In the third act, I'm a Phillistine. My costume is hideous, and I'm glad I'm buried in the pack on stage:


I think I look like an orange-and-gold ICBM.

Here are reviews from the Sandy Eggo Union tribune and Opera West(don't see anything in the LA Times yet). The SD review is bad - they didn't pan us, it was just a crummy review. No wonder they think this place is the sticks. The reviewer is listed as a UCSD grad student. She obviously needs more schooling.

The San Diego Union/Tribune

Opera West

[OperaTenor]

Hey, I just noticed a photo of me got onto the Opera West review. I can state with absolute certainty that is my hand in the red circle:

[Shapley]

So... Now we know who to call when selecting the cast for Harry Potter: The Opera



I guess Piq could dig out her witch costume to play Professor McGonagle...

[jamiebk]

OT..you literally had me laughing out loud in my chair! The ICBM comment is hilarious! The slave costume looks itchy.

[Selma in Sandy Eggo]

The orange thing would be less awkward if you lost the capelet. What was the costumer thinking? Were the rest of the Philistines equally gaudy?

I do like the Hagrid getup. Yes, Piq would make an admirable Professor McGonigall, you could do the Altoid up in a pillowcase and she'd be a house elf - Halloween is done!

[OperaTenor]

The rest of the Phillistines are equally gaudy, but in more tasteful color combinations and cuts. The Sandy Eggo Opera costume shop had to make several new costumes, and those are head and shoulders better thaa the older costumes.


PS. Thanks, now I know how to spell "Hagrid".

[Shapley]

The Philistine costume looks like it can serve double duty as a gypsy's dress. Is it, perhaps, left over from Carmen?

[OperaTenor]

The Philistine costume looks like it can serve double duty as a gypsy's dress. Is it, perhaps, left over from Carmen?

No, I think it was left over from the Cold War. Found in an abandoned missle silo.